Ball-bearing seu-closing hinge



c. JELF.

BALL BEARING SELF CLOSING HINGE.

APPLICATION FILE!) APR- 22. I918.

1,324,505. Patented Dec. 9,1919.

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UNITED STATES arana: OFFICE.

CALVIN m, or OBDYKE,,I LL1NQ;IS.H

AL -BEA I snm ems memres To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, CALVIN JELF, a citizen of the United States, residing at Opdyke,

useful Improvements in Ball-Bearing Self- Closing Hinges, of which the following is a specification containing-a full-, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof. V My invention relates to an improved gravitating (or self-closing) anti-friction hinge, and it consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter specified, and substantially a pointed out in the claim found at the end of this specification. V The object of my invention is to provide an efiicient, reliable and low-priced antifriction hinge, which can be'applied to doorscreens, window-screens, doors and other parts of a building which are hung upon hinges andwhichare self-closing.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of my improved hinge, ready for attachment to a door or other swinging part of a structure. Fig. :2 is a similar view, with the two leaves slightly separated, inorder to show the anti-friction bearing provide the usual form of mating leaves 1' and 2 of any known material, and of any.

shape, having the;

known and approved screw or nail holes 3 through which fastening-means (such as the usual screws or nails) are passed for the purpose of securing the hinge to the door to be'hung and to the door frame; and then provide such leaves with the anti-friction devices which are now to 'be described.

Formed integral with the leaf 1, at the inner edge thereof, is a cylindrical bos or I knuckle 4, which has the usual vertical bore in the county of Jefferson and State 5 of Illinois, have invented certain new and between the adjae cent ends of the knuckles or pin'tle-sockets;

through it for' -the passa of the -usual headed pint-1e 5, and which his member of the anti-friction hinge. j

Depending from the lower end of said bossor knuckle tis an annular water, snow and dust shield (fly-which incloses the upper endof the lower knuckle 7 carried by the opposite leaf :2,'and keeps the rain, snow and dust from entering the semicircular spiral ball-race Swhiehis formed in the upper end of the said lower knuckle, and in which a free'fiball (or similar anti-friction devicelis adaptedto roll bodily from end to endof said race and support the weight of the upper lmuc'kile and all of the weight that is imposed upon it by the door or other article; that ishungby the bearing of the is usual in all ordinary me. By the termf-semi- P i shinges know-n to fi i i i e ehtm-' Patented Dea -"1919.. 7 Application filedApri1 22, 1918. Serial in). 230,164, V

s is the upper circular spiral ball race I mean that said i V ball-race 8 iss-emicircul-ar or curved in crosssection, as Well a spiral in form; (See Fig. 5 V i v y making said ball-race curved in cross section; the said ball 9 will be retainedin said race by the walls of the latter throughout the length of the ball-race, thus preventingthe ball from jumping out ofthe race at any point. v I

But the said ball-race being curved in cross-section and placed open side up, it would be very soon filled with dirt, which would prevent ;the practical operation of said ball 9, were it not for the protecting function of the said downwardly extending shield 6, which-latter being formed integral with the said -upper knuckle 4: pro ects around and inclose-s and protects the en trance to the said ball-race.

Furthermore, the outer wall of said ball- 7 race, being comparatively thin and weak, is 7 protected from breakage by accidental 'blows which would be deliveredupon said Wall were it not by the said shield Thisrenders the and durable, and yet the weight of the parts is comparatively light, so that'there is not a wastage of metal in making the castings ver heavy.

' aid-anti-friction device may be a ball 9,- or any mechanical equivalent that is adapted for the purpose. I g The said upper member or knuckle 4 has construction very strong for the protection afforded I upon its lower end a smooth fiat spiral sur- "face 10, at the lower end of which is a circular recess 11 that is a little larger in size than the size of the said ball 9, and in this recess the said ball is located at all times, and rolls around therein as the weight of the uppernieniber t and the part of the door or other hung article carried by it is exerted downwardly. By reason of the fact that the said "circular recess 11 is located at the end of the said smooth fiatspiral surface 10, as above described, the said ball is thereby prevented from going beyond said recess.

Said circular shield 6 is cast integral with the upper knuckle 4:, and entirely incloses and embraces the said flat spiral surface 10 of said knuckle, thereby strengthening and protecting the edges of said piral surface, as well as depending below the plane of the same to inclose and protect the said outer wall of said ball-race 8 of, the lower knuckle 7. o

lVhen the door or other hung article is swung open the said ball 9 rolls upwardly upon and along the said spiral baltrace 8 in said lower knuckle 7, to a point adjacent the upper end of said ball-race; and when the door is being closed the said ball 9 moves in a reverse direction in said ball-race.

It will be evident that the weight of the door will cause the moving parts to gravitate, and thereby cause the door and hinges to automatically close and stay closed until opened again.

Further description of the operation is deemed unnecessary. I claim the following as my invention:

The improved gravitating hinge, coinprising suitable mating leaves; an upper knuckle cast integral with one of said leaves, and having upon its lower end a fiat spiral sur face, at one end of which is a circular recess, said knuckle also having the usual pintlebore; a lower knuckle having in its upper end aspiral ball-race curved in cross-section; a ball located in said ball-race but stopped against movement upon said flat spiral surface by said circular recess at said recess-end of the flat spiral surface; and an integral circular shield inclosing and pro tectin g the outer edge of said flat spiral surface, and depending from the lower end of said upper knuckle a sulhcient distance to inclose and protect the outer wall of said a spiral ball-race of said lower knuckle.

In testimony whereof, l have signed my name to this specification in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

, V 7 7 CALVIN JELF.

lVitnesses FRANoasHoov nn JOHN CL HIenoN.

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